The plot is based on a young man, Yamato Akitsuki, who moves from his rural home in Hiroshima Prefecture to live at his aunt's apartment building and indoor bath complex in Tokyo and attend the local athletics-oriented high school. Before arriving at his new home, he walks past his new school and sees a young girl practicing high jump at the track field.

He falls in love with her at first sight but does not expect to see her again. He soon discovers that the girl, Suzuka Asahina, is one of the occupants of his aunt's apartment and that they happen to live next door to each other. To pursue Suzuka, Yamato joins the track and field team in hopes of impressing her. After joining the team, he discovers that he has the potential to become a top hundred-meter sprinter. The story intertwines his pursuit of love and athletics.

Suzuka's character-driven plot predominantly makes use of dramatic structure to facilitate character development. Characterization is further achieved through the use of character back-story. The story in general employs a realistic tone, but will occasionally use surreal humour. Some events covered in the story are: track competitions, vacations, culture festivals, and outings to a Karaoke Box and a theme park. The manga and anime follow the same storyline, though there are minor differences. One of these changes is that the nude scenes are less graphic in the anime than the manga. Another disparity is the hair color of some of the characters such as the character Miki, who is depicted as having bright red hair on the covers of the manga, but is portrayed with brown hair in the anime.

Characters*

Yamato Akitsuki (秋月 大和, Akitsuki Yamato?)

Voiced by: Daisuke Nakamura (Japanese), Todd Haberkorn (English)

The protagonist of the series. He moved from his rural home in Hiroshima Prefecture to his aunt's dormitory in the city of Tokyo to change himself. While checking out his new school, he sees a beautiful high jumper practicing and falls in love at first sight. He later learns that the same person happens to be his next door neighbor, Suzuka Asahina. Yamato has a carefree attitude and his impulsiveness leads him into compromising situations. When motivated, he can be become very determined and focused. The character was named after the World War II Japanese battleship Yamato.[4]

Suzuka Asahina (朝比奈 涼風, Asahina Suzuka?)

Voiced by: Kanako Mitsuhashi (Japanese), Leah Clark (English)

The female lead of the series and the love interest of Yamato. She moved from her home in Yokohama to Tokyo to take up an offer of one of the various high schools that were scouting for her talent in the high jump. She takes her athletics very seriously and puts pressure on herself because she does not want to disappoint others. Early in the series, her feelings are guarded because of a tragic event from her past. This character was named after the World War II Japanese destroyer Suzukaze.[4]

Honoka Sakurai (桜井 萌果, Sakurai Honoka?)

Voiced by: Yumiko Hosono (Japanese), Brina Palencia (English)

She first met Yamato when they were younger at her family's shrine that he liked to visit when he was at his aunt's home. During their first meeting, Yamoto helped her out by doing a makeshift repair to the shrine bell that had fallen down. After this incident, she had developed a crush on him, but was too shy to talk to him. Much to her shock, Yamato enrolled to her high school and was placed in her class. Seeing her opportunity, she overcomes her shyness and begins to talk with him.

Yasunobu Hattori (服部 安信, Hattori Yasunobu?)

Voiced by: Takanori Ohyama (Japanese), Robert McCollum (English)

He first met Yamato when he was lost in Tokyo as a child and could not find his way back to his aunt's dormitory. After Yasunobu guided him back, they became friends, even though some of Yasunobu's antics got Yamato into trouble. He has grown up to be a ladies' man and often goes on dates with different girls. He dreams of polygyny being legalized in Japan. Yamato often comes to him for relationship advice, which he gives, but somehow Yamato blunders his ideas.

Miki Hashiba (羽柴 美紀, Hashiba Miki?)

Voiced by: Seika Hosokawa (Japanese), Jamie Marchi (English)

She is a sprinter for the track team and is Suzuka's best friend. When she first met Suzuka at the middle school track competitions, Miki did not like her because she felt that she was conceited. It was not until Miki comprehended the pressure Suzuka put on herself did they become friends. Miki later on also becomes friends with Yamato. Since she is a mutual friend to both, she is in the unique position to help them understand each other or to call them out when she thinks one of them has treated the other unjustly. She seems to dislike Yasunobu's playboy personality; because of this, she often gets into disagreements with him.

^All from Wiki.

Hmm.. this is a anime worth watching, and this is the one unique anime that has no special powers/killing, its almost like its portraying the lifes of the characters to us..
its like a modern romance story, overall, i loved this anime.

The manga is over. Finished, i just finished reading the last chapter.. and it has touched my heart.. bah~ im feeling emo now.. no more Suzuka.

Havent read the manga, but i have to say the anime is average at best (so far, I am only on 8 so it may improve, i'll still watch it all). It is defintely a beautiful romantic story, I just find it can be extremely dull in places.
Episode 6 did bring a tear to the eye though *sniff*

i've seen like the first two volumes in a couple of our bookstores, but thats about it. In fact we're only just getting Naruto, Bleach and Deathnote over here in manga form. Sucks to be British (unless you live in the Code Geass world!)

i've seen like the first two volumes in a couple of our bookstores, but thats about it. In fact we're only just getting Naruto, Bleach and Deathnote over here in manga form. Sucks to be British (unless you live in the Code Geass world!)

Bah~ i know what u mean.. sadly, sometimes it happens over here too.. it really gives me a headache if i cant find the manga that i wanna get.. to make things worse, there are different languages for the mangas.. X.X

i've seen like the first two volumes in a couple of our bookstores, but thats about it. In fact we're only just getting Naruto, Bleach and Deathnote over here in manga form. Sucks to be British (unless you live in the Code Geass world!)

Bah~ i know what u mean.. sadly, sometimes it happens over here too.. it really gives me a headache if i cant find the manga that i wanna get.. to make things worse, there are different languages for the mangas.. X.X

I know what u mean! It took me two months before i could get Negima volume 9, even though i already had 10, 11 and 12! Furubas not so bad, theres plenty of that, but i go to Waterstones or Travelling man, and they have little bits and bobs of each series, just no complete ones anywhere.

So would it definitely be worth investing time (and possibly money) in the Suzuka manga? I did like Ai Yori Aoshi, is it similar, coz thats what i got from the anime

The manga finished scanlating just less than week ago. It did get a little repetitive at times but it is definitely one of the best romance manga ive read. Overall the anime and the manga was good, the reason why i included both was that the story in anime adaption was pretty much the same only difference was it didnt finish, so hopefully they will decide to make a second season. If youre looking for a bit of romance this might be for you, do check this out.

thanks for helping out.. hmm.. i personally think Sakurai would be a better partner for the guy.. but, this series, is named Suzuka for a reason.. xD